Pakistan opener Sharjeel Khan joins Leicestershire

Leicester (England), Sep 7 (IANS) Pakistan opener Sharjeel Khan has signed for Leicestershire as an overseas player for the 2017 NatWest Blast season.

Sharjeel, who is currently part of the Pakistan limited-overs squad in England, notched up his maiden ODI century against Ireland recently (he reached his century in just 62 balls) and also made an impressive 58 from 30 balls against England at Trent Bridge.

Leicestershire have previously announced that former Australia international Clint McKay will be their other overseas player in the NatWest Blast. They finished bottom of the North Group this season, with four wins, eight losses and two no-results from their 14 games. Sharjeel is expected to be available for the duration of the Blast campaign.

“I am aware that there was keen interest from other counties, so I am delighted that we have managed to secure someone of Sharjeel’s ability for the duration of the 2017 NatWest T20 Blast campaign,” Leicestershire’s CEO Wasim Khan said.

“He is a powerful hitter who will offer us another option as a T20 opener,” Wasim Khan was quoted as saying by ESPNcricinfo on Wednesday.

“It has been an ambition of mine to play county cricket and I would like to thank Leicestershire for this great opportunity,” Sharjeel said. “A number of fine Pakistan batsmen have played for Leicestershire over the years including Shahid Afridi, Abdul Razzaq and Umar Akmal, and I’m pleased to be following in their footsteps.”